A fluorescence imaging system for oral cancer and precancer detection

A fluorescence imaging system was constructed to take images of oral cavity for oral cancer and precancer detection. Being applied at oral cavity for one hour, ALA would be metabolized by cells to be PpIX, which emitted red fluorescence (630 nm) while illuminated by violet light (wavelength 410 nm). The results show that explicit red color was presented at those cancerous/precancerous areas on the image. The abnormal area could be easily identified. This imaging technique is potential for oral cancer/precancer diagnosis.